An effective thesis statement for analytical writing about an image or a multimodal text responds to a question about the text or tries to resolve a problem in the text. Remember that your thesis isn’t the same as the text’s thesis or main idea. Your thesis presents your judgment of the text’s argument. If you find that your thesis is restating the text’s message, turn to your notes to see if the questions you asked earlier in the process can help you revise.

INEFFECTIVE THESIS STATEMENT

Consumers who purchase coffee from farmers in the Equal Exchange network are helping farmers stay on their land.

The thesis is ineffective because it summarizes the ad; it doesn’t present an analysis. Ren Yoshida focused the thesis by questioning a single detail in the work.

QUESTIONS

The ad promises an equal exchange, but is the exchange equal between consumers and farmers?

Do the words equal exchange and empowering farmers appeal to consumers’ emotions?

EFFECTIVE THESIS STATEMENT

Although the ad works successfully on an emotional level, it is less successful on a logical level because of its promise for an equal exchange between consumers and farmers.

Writing guide: Analysis essay

Annotated multimodal text (Equal Exchange advertisement)

Analysis of an advertisement: Yoshida, “Sometimes a Cup of Coffee Is Just a Cup of Coffee”